crafts

[ratcreature]

My current messenger bag is becoming threadbare, and I actually have several pair of jeans in my closet that don't fit me anymore, but that don't have holes, so I decided to try out this tutorial for turning old jeans into a bag.

For the lining I used an old duvet cover, that my former rats had chewed on a while back, but it had still hole-free areas that were large enough work. (Side benefit of this crafty project: for once I actually reused something chewed on that I kept despite the damage, instead of just thinking stuff might still be good for something.)

The end result isn't a particularly pretty bag, and it has the disadvantage that the bottom area is not shaped to be naturally broader, but for the same reason it is simple to sew. Overall it worked out okay, though mine still ended up a bit lopsided, probably because I didn't measure or even ironed anything.

Something I changed from the tutorial is that I added another pocket behind the zipper area, because I loathe pointless "decorative" zippers, so in my bag the retained zipper opens into an extra pocket. Also I didn't sew the strap on, but just hooked it into the belt loops that were already there with snap hooks.

Comments

[sholio]

Oh, nice! :) It looks very durable and handy.

[ratcreature]

Thanks! At first it looked a bit odd to me because its origin as jeans is very clear, but with the flap closed it looks more like a regular, plain canvas bag, and it certainly felt good to actually recycle something from my "surely it might be still useful for something" pile.

[ladyjanelly]

Awesome! Kudos for upcycling existing materials. It looks really sturdy and useful. Good job for it working without measuring or ironing.

[ratcreature]

Thanks! The tutorial didn't ask for exact measuring, just pinning, because you don't really cut the jeans up fully into parts, just kind of sew the leg holes shut. So it isn't a pattern as such, which I found attractive. Though because trousers aren't rectangles with equal front and back and right angles, combined with me not being the most accomplished seamstress, the end result is somewhat asymmetric.

However I managed to made the lining fit well enough with just pinning and eyeballing that I didn't end up with scrunched up lining fabric when I sewed it to the top opening, which was the hardest part, IMO. Ironing probably would have made that easier with the lining and also getting the flap even, but I'm lazy.

And it looks decent enough for a messenger bag, especially once you carry it with stuff inside, because the bulges from all the stuff I lug around are creating more unevenness than anything in the bag itself, LOL.

[lilacsigil]

Good work! The denim will be nice and sturdy, too.

[ratcreature]

Thanks! My old messenger bag is also made from denim and held up for several years of almost daily use, and even now it's mostly coming apart at the seams and the lining. So I hope my repurposed jeans will be as durable.